Chiefs of Staff Committee (CoSC):
- Mandate: To advise the Defence Minister and normally through him the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs on all military matters which require ministerial consideration.
- Composition:
- CoSC is composed of: (a) Chief of the Army Staff (COAS); (b) Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS); (c) Chief of the Air Staff (CAS); and (d) Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CIDS) (non-voting member). Scientific Adviser to the Minister of Defence is invited to attend whenever needed.
- Presently, the senior most member of the COSC is appointed its chairperson.
Recent Development:
- Outgoing Chairman of the COSC and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba handed over the baton of the COSC to Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Birender Singh Dhanoa.
- ACM Dhanoa will be the Chairman of COSC with effect from May 31, 2019, consequent to relinquishment of charge by Admiral Sunil Lanba upon superannuation.
- Vice Admiral Karambir Singh has been named as the next Navy Chief. However, his appointment has been challenged by Vice Admiral Bimal Verma in the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) over being superceded for the top post despite him being the most senior.
